WEBVTT SEVERAL RECENTVIOLENT INCIDENTS,THE UNIONREPRESENTINGCORRECTIONSOFFICERS IS ASKINGLAWMAKERS TOAPPROVE MONEY FORSTAB-PROOF VESTS.W-M-T-W NEWS 8'SLINDSAY LIEPMANJOINS US LIVE FROMTHE LONG CREEKYOUTH DEVELOPMENTCENTER IN SOUTHPORTLAND TOEXPLAIN.THE UNION TELLS MEONE WORKER HEREWAS SENT TO THEHOSPITAL LASTMONTH AFTER THREEJUVENILESATTACKEDAND INANOTHERINCIDENTA WORKERWAS CHOKEDUNCONSCIOUS BY AJUVENILE. IT'S ADANGEROUS JOBWATCHINGINMATESAND THEUNION WANTSBETTER PROTECTION."24/7 you are withthese inmates afterthey've beenincarcerated and ifyou're dealing with aninmate who is servinglife, they really havenothing to lose."JIM MACKIE IS THEUNIONREPRESENATITVE FORTHE STATE'SCORRECTIONOFFICERS. HE ISASKING LAWMAKERSTO APPROVE UP TO150 THOUSANDDOLLARS FOR STABVESTSTO PROTECTTHE WORKERS WHOARE FACE TO FACEWITH INMATESEVERYDAY."what price do youwant to put on acorrections officer?$240 is a very cheapprice to keep our folkssafe in there. We liketo incarcerate peopleand forget about thembut we can not forgetthe individuals whodaily have to deal withthose people."HE SAYS THEOFFICERS HAVETALKED ABOUT THENEED FORVESTSBUT NOW ISTHE TIME."the severity and thefrequency is reallywhat has brought thisto a head andmotivated us to comeforward."SENATOR STANGerzofsky IS THECHAIRMAN OF THECRIMINAL JUSTICEAND PUBLIC SAFETYCOMMITTEE. HE SAYSTHEY WILL HEARDIRECTLY FROM THECORRECTIONSDEPARTMENTSCOMMISSIONER THISWEEK AND IF THENEED ISURGENTTHEY CANFIND MONEY TO MAKEIT HAPPEN.BRUNSWICKÑ"our correctionsofficers have all thetools they need if thereis a tool that they don'thave we certainly wantto make sure they dohave it. I can't imaginenot providing thosetools."OTHER LAWMAKERSSAY THE UNION'SREQUEST ISSERIOUSANDQUESTIONS NEED TOBE ASKED TO ENSURETHOSE PROTECTINGOUR SAFETY, AREPROTECTED TOO.PORTLANDÑ"if you're walking thefloor of a jail tonight oryou're inside the pod ofa state prison facility,that's your reality. I'veworked the street as apatrol officer and I'vewalked those floorsand I have to saycorrections officersface the toughestpublic safety contextof all. They know100% the challengesthey are facingeveryday."